Gilchrist’s remarks comes amid reports suggesting that Australian batter David
might opt to play for United Arab Emirates T20 league over Big Bash League (BBL).
Gilchrist, who appeared on SEN’s Whateley radio show, said that the franchises can’t decide where the players can or cannot play.
“They can’t force David Warner to play in BBL, I understand that, but to let him then go off – or another player, let’s not single out Warner because there will be other players on the radar – it’s all part of this global dominance that these IPL franchises are starting to create given they own a number of teams in Caribbean Premier League. It’s getting a little bit dangerous the grip that it’s having to monopolise that ownership and the ownership of the players and their talents and where they can and can’t play,” the three-time World Cup winner Australian cricketer said.
He also urgent that the Australian cricket board should take cognizance of the matter as more cricketers could follow Warner’s suit.
“If he (Warner) rides off into the sunset and says, ‘Sorry Australian cricket, I’m going to become a gun for hire for my Indian franchise team in various tournaments’ you can’t question him on that, that’s his prerogative and he’s done everything he needs to get the profile and get that market value,” Gilchrist said.
“It’s the new younger player coming in that starts to make those noises where it’ll be really challenging,” he added.
Interestingly, Mumbai Indians, Kolkata Knight Riders and Delhi Capitals have invested in teams in the UAE T20 league.
Gilchrist, who represented Australia in 96 Tests, 287 ODIs, and 13 T20Is, had earlier played for IPL franchises such as the Deccan Charges and Kings XI Punjab(renamed Punjab Kings).
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